Waterproof material and method of preparing same.



Nrrnn STATES CHARLES I. GOESSMANN, OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ATENT QFFICE.

THE VELLUMOID PAPER COMPANY, OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS, .A CORPORATION OEWEST VIRGINIA.

WATERPROOF MATERIAL AND METHOD OF PREPARING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,558, dated February 24, 1903.

Application filed August 16, 1900. Serial No. 27,086. (No specimens.)

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES I. GoEssMANN,

a citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of Amherst, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Art of Waterproofing Materialsand an Improved Product Created Thereby,of which the following is a specification.

.My invention relates more particularly to the art of manufacturing paper, which may be practiced either during the process of manufacture or after the paper has been manufactured, although my process or method may also be employed in connection with the production of fabrics other than paper, but of a similar nature.

My invention also relates to the strengthening of the texture of paper or other similar fabrics and to the rendering of the same im-v pervious to water, moisture, grease, acid, &c.

The objects of my invention are, first, to produce a paper or other fabric which will be stronger than when subjected to any treatment heretofore practiced; second, to produce a paper or other fabric which will be non-absorbent of Water or moisture, or, in other words, waterproof; third, to produce a paper or other fabric which will be non-absorbent of grease, or,-in other words, greaseproof; fourth, to produce a paper or other fabric which will not be affected by acids, or, in other words, will be acid-proof; fifth, to provide a process or method by which said objects or results may be obtained, and, sixth, to provide methods or processes by which said results may be'expeditiously and economically attained.

My invention consists in the methods, steps, or processes by which I attain the objects of my invention, both singly and collectively, as hereinafter set forth, and in the product resulting from such treatment. v

In carrying out my invention any convenient and appropriate machinery or apparatus may be employed.

As this invention has more particular reference to the man ufaoture of paper and treatment of the same and only general reference to other fabrics, I herein set forth in detail the best methods and processes of carrying out my invention as applied to paper fabrics.

The treatment may be applied while the pulp is being formed in to paper or the finished paper may be treated. If the material is to lie treated While being formed into paper, then the better method is to'begin the treatment when the web of pulpy material leaves the Fourdrinier wire or the cylinders,it then being in a damp condition, but with the larger percentage of moisture removed. From this point the treatment of the fabric is the same whether it be pulp in a sheet, as above stated, or finished paper.

Thetreatment consists first in saturating the paper with glutinous material, preferably animal glue, and by preference the bath of glutinous material should be hot to effect the more rapid absorption and more perfect permeation, impregnation, and deposit of the glutinous material within all the microscopic interstices throughout the body of the fabric 7 being treated.

By preference a suitable tank is provided, in which the glutinous material is deposited and in which it may be kept heated to a constant temperature, the fabric being passed through the tank and saturated during its passage. I prefer that the material being treated be kept in motion and pass in a continuous sheetthat is, be fed from a rolland the finished product be wound in a roll after final treatment. This saves time, and I find that the requisite permeation or incorporation of glutinous matter in the fiber will with some papersfor instance, lightly-sized Manila hemprequire but a few seconds. As the fabric passes from the glutin-tank the surplus of glutinous matter is removed from the surfaces by mechanical means as contradistinguished from simply allowing it to pass off by gravity, and in most instances I prefer to pass the fabric between suitable pressurerolls to remove such surplus.

The strength and consistency of the glutinous bath may be varied, depending upon the material being treated and the uses for which such material is designed. It may, however be stated that in a majority of cases a hot solution of about one part of animal glue to about ten parts of water, by weight, gives the best results.

After leaving the bath of glutinous material and having the surplus adhering to the surfaces removed the fabric before drying is passed into or through a solution of formaldehyde and water. The strength of this solution may also be variable, depending, as heretofore stated, upon the fabric and uses for which it is designed. In the majority of cases, however, a solution of one part of formaldehyde, thirty-five per cent. solution, to five parts of water, by weight, gives the best results, and the best result is attained if this bath is cold instead of hot, though any particular temperature is not essentially necessary.

The effect of the formaldehyde solution upon the glutin-saturated fabric is to precipitate the glutinous matter and render it insoluble.

As the material comes from the for1naldehyde-bath I prefer that the surplus adhering to the surfaces be removed by mechanical means, pressure-rolls being probably most convenient. The fabric is then dried in any convenient manner. The best result in drying, so far as I am at present advised, is attained by the air-blastt'. a, projecting blasts of air against both surfaces of the fabric. This drying removes all the watery constituents and leaves the fabric in a toughened or greatly-strengthened condition, but not in practical condition for commercial uses, as it is brittle, horny, and stiff and has an objectionable odor and taste on account of the presence of the aldehydes, paraldehydes, formic acid, and other products, the result of oxidation. Now while the glutinous material is rendered insoluble-that is, it is so acted upon by the formaldehyde and the chemical action which takes place while the united solutions are giving off. their watery constituents that it will not fully dissolve. It is, however, in a condition to be acted on by moisture, as it will swell and absorb or take up permanently by either chemical or mechanical action a percentage of water and will also become improved in many respects, so that to temper and render the fabric soft and pliable and adapt it for most commercial uses I subject it to moisture, which penetrates the fabric, causing a swelling in all directions, filling the interstices perfectly, and resulting in hydration throughout the entire cellular structure. Two actions-mechanical and chemical-appear to take place, the mechanical action being the temporary absorption of water, analogous to the absorption of water by a dry sponge, the chemical action being the permanent union of water with the treated fabric, analogous to the union of water and tapioca,causing swelling, or like the chemical combination of waterwith lime orcement. For this purpose I prefer to pass the fabric into alent heat and moisture medium, thus causing the fibers and the non-soluble glutinous material filling the interstices to expand in all directions and forcing the glutinous material into all the microscopic pores or openings and into the masses of fiber, causing a commin gling or thorough incorporation of the fibers and the glutinous compound, and at the same time, as heretofore indicated, a change (hydration) takes place, whereby the hardened mass of fiber, glutinous material, and formaldehyde becomes tempered and softened and the strength imparted by the previous treatment increased.

To heighten the tempering and softening effect, I may in some instances introduce glycerin in the tempering-bath, and in most cases one two-hundredths, in volume, of glycerin gives the best results.

The fabric may be dried in any convenient manner and is in condition for most commercial uses, it being greatly strengthened, more flexible, more impervious to moisture, acids,

grease, or alkalies, and is suitable for the manufacture of binding-twine, carpets, dry wrappings,forlining packing-cases, and many novelties, &c., but is liable to still have a disagreeable taste and may carry traces of acids, rendering it impracticable for some uses for instance, wrapping butter, meats, cheese, the. For the purpose, therefore, of rendering the material absolutely free from all traces of acidity and all taste and odors and, in fact, to render it absolutely hygienic I pass it through a bath of water and a volatile alkali ammonium hydrate-the proportion by preference in a majority of cases being one onehundredth of ammonium hydrate to ninetynine one-hundredths of water, by volume, and I may add a small percentage of wood'alcohol. This bath is preferably cool; but a variation in its temperature will not to a serious extent interfere with the results. The effect of this bath followed by drying is to complete the chemical reaction and destroy all taste or odor, removing all traces of acids, and rendering the fabric hygienic in all 1'e spects. The material may be calendered or cut and used for any of the purposes desired.

If the material is to be subjected to the volatile-alkali bath, it is not necessary to dry it between the tempering and volatile-alkali baths.

The fabric thus made will be found to be greatly strengthened, some materials being increased in strength from one hundred to seven hundred per cent. It will be non-absorbent to acids, greases, alkalies, and substantially waterproof, and owing to its component integrate structure will be practically non-conductive to electricity, adapting it as a superior insulating material and may with perfect safety be employed for wrapping butter, meats, spices, groceries, and all materials, whether unctuous or otherwise. I

By the term hydration as used herein I mean the subjecting of the material (after treatment with glutinous material and formaldehyde and drying) to moisture, whereby the action herein described takes place.

With my methods or processes the sheet of material--as paper, for instancecan be treated as rapidly as it is manufactured, as the time for exposure to the action of the glutinous material need not be longer than the time required forit to become saturated, this of course varying with different thicknesses and densities, and the length of time of exposure may be fixed without checking the speed by making the tank of such length that the requisite time will elapse while the sheet is passing through it and the guides so arranged as to maintain the sheet in position to be acted on by such solution the requisite length of time. I find four seconds exposure to the action of formaldehyde sufiicient in most cases.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improvement in the art of treating paper or other like material, consisting in saturating the material with a glutinous substance, then subjecting the saturated material before it is dry to the action of formaldehyde, then drying the material, then hydrating the same and then drying-it.

2. The improvement in the art of treating paper, &c., consisting in first treating the paper with a fluid glutinous compound, then removing the surplus from the surfaces, then subjecting it before it is dry to the action of formaldehyde, then drying the same, then hydrating the material, and then drying it.

3. The improvement in the art of treating paper or other like material, consisting in saturating it with a glutinous material, then mechanically removing the surplus from the surfaces, then subjecting it while in its Watery condition to the action of formaldehyde, then drying it, then hydrating the material with a solution of Water and glycerin, and then drying it.

4. The improvement in the art of treating paper or other like material, consisting in first treating it with a glutinous substance, then subjecting it to the action of formaldehyde, then drying, then hydrating, and then subjecting it to the action of avolatile alkali.

5. The improvement in the art of treating paper or other like material, consisting in first saturating the paper with a glutinous material, then mechanically removing the surplus from the surfaces, then immersing it while in its watery condition in a bath of dilute formaldehyde, then drying it, then hydratingit by immersion in a bath of dilute glycerin, and then drying it.

6. The improvement in the art of treating paper or other like material, consistingin first treating it with a glutinous compound, then subjecting it before it is dry to the action of formaldehyde, thendrying it, and then hy-' drating it by subjection to the action of hot.

water.

7. The improvement in the art of treating paper or other material, consisting in first subjecting it to a glutinous compound, then to the action of formaldehyde, then drying it, then hydrating it, and then subjecting it to the action of ammonium hydrate.

8. The improvement in the art of treating paper or other like material, consisting in first saturating it in a bath of glutinous material, then passing it through a bath of dilute formaldehyde, then drying it, then immersing it in hot water to hydrate it and remove impurities, and then neutralizingwith a volatile alkali.

9. The improvement in the art of treating paper or other like material consisting in passing the material in one continuous motion, first into a vat wherein it is saturated with a glutinous material, then removing the surplus from the surfaces, then passing it through a formaldehyde-bath, then removing the surplus from the surfaces, then passing it into hot water, and then into a solution of a vola- I tile alkali and calendering.

10. The improvement in the art of treating paper herein described, consisting in subjecting a continuouslymoving sheet consecutively to the following treatments: first, impregnating the sheet with a heated fluid glutinous solution; second, passing the paper before it is dry through a formaldehyde solution; third, subjecting the paper to a drying agency; fourth, subjecting the paper toa heated immersion to hydrate it, and fifth, drying the treated paper.

11. The herein-described method of preparing a waterproof material, which consists in first applying a solution of glue; then subjecting the material thus treated to the action of a Weak solution of formaldehyde; then drying and treating With'boiling water and glycerin, and subsequently with dilute ammonia hydrate and wood-alcohol.

12. The improvement in the art of treating paper herein described, consisting in subjecting a continuously-moving sheet consecutively to the following treatments: first, impregnating the sheet with a fluid glutinous solution; second, passing the paper through a formaldehyde solution; third, subjecting the paper to a drying agency; fourth, subjecting the paper to a heated immersion to hydrate it; fifth, passing the paper through a bath of ammonium hydrate, substantially as described, and, sixth, drying the treated paper.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention, Ihave signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of August,

CHARLES I. GOESSMANN. Witnesses:

ALLEN WEBSTER,

L. H. HoRNER. 

